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Business owners are always hearing about that one business that got the great account, was the first to offer a product that became very popular or because of their great service is talked about a lot and therefore attracting new customers.

What did they do that you didn’t? What does their business have that yours doesn’t? Usually, it isn’t that they did something completely different or had something that your business didn’t have. These business owners took advantage of an opportunity or created one for themselves. They had been in business a long time but didn’t give in to the belief that it was too late for them, that their business was what it was and things weren’t going to change.

Opportunities for your business are everywhere, you just have to be aware of what is going on around you. You also have to realize that your business, regardless of what it is, has an impact on your customers. Just because the ideas you have are small and your business is small doesn’t mean it isn’t important to others as well as yourself. Understand the impact your business has, look at how other business owners are taking advantage of opportunities and turn these same opportunities into growth for your business, not by copying, but by borrowing the ideas and turning them into something that is a great fit for you and your products.

Competition is actually good for your business as it makes you stop and think of how you can improve what you offer so that what you have is better than what is out there. It gives you a push to want to succeed more and better yourself and your business. It makes you stop and think of how your business is going to grow with the trends so it will still be viable in the future. Decide that you will no longer ignore what is right under your business nose, grasp what is available and if you need to learn new skills to do that, then learn them.

It’s never too late to make great things happen. Just think, Harlan Sanders, the Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame, was 66 when he began to promote his style of cooking and create an empire. There’s still room for more great ideas.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2014

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